WASHINGTON WATCH

Published 4:00 am, Friday, July 24, 1998

Citing a shortage of farm labor for peak harvest times, the Senate on Thursday approved a program to bring more temporary foreign laborers into the country to pick crops.

The farm "guest worker" plan passed 68-31 as part of a $33billion spending bill the Senate approved to operate the Commerce, Justice and State departments next fiscal year.

The bill would create a new visa category to allow temporary workers, who could get permanent status if they worked four consecutive seasons.

It would set up a computerized registry to match farm workers with available jobs, giving preference to U.S. citizens. If the register showed that workers were not available, the program would allow the entry of more temporary foreign workers.

Easier entry to U.S.&lt;

The Senate approved repealing a law that requires the government to gather records of all foreigners crossing at Canadian and Mexican border checkpoints.

The repeal provision was tucked into a spending bill for the Commerce, State and Justice departments that passed 99-0 on Thursday.

Northern lawmakers have voiced fears about traffic jams and lost trade at the Canadian border if the stiffer requirements for checking crossings, due to take effect this fall, were not eased.

A provision in the 1996 immigration law requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to keep a record of foreigners departing and arriving in the United States so it can identify those overstaying their visas.

Cyberspace porn&lt;

The Senate approved a milder version of the failed Communications Decency Act which aims to block pornography on the Internet from the eyes of minors.

The provisions were part of a spending bill for the Commerce, State and Justice departments.

One provision would require Internet companies to restrict young people's access in cyberspace to pornographic and other materials harmful to minors. Minors are defined as people under 17 years of age.

Law breakers, under this provision, could be punished with up to six months in jail and a $50,000 fine.

Environmental cuts&lt;

Now Playing:

The Republican-led Congress, setting its own spending priorities, is moving to blunt many of President Clinton's top environmental initiatives, from global warming issues to cleaning up toxic waste sites.

The House approved legislation Thursday to cut Clinton's requests for climate-related energy efficiency programs, reduced money requested by Clinton for public land purchases and for endangered species protection, and moved toward approving legislation that would bar spending on activities to comply with a yet to be ratified international climate treaty. &lt;

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